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Broken Arrows to Faded Giants

Dateline: 08/16/00

On Monday, Aug. 14, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk
sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea off the
northwest coast of Russia. Even before their efforts to rescue the sub's crew began,
Russian naval officials issued statements that no nuclear weapons were on board
the "Oscar" class Kursk and that her two nuclear reactors had been safely shutdown. In U.S.
Department of Defense nuclear accident terms, the Kursk had become a "Faded
Giant."

While the facts concerning the existence or non-existence of nuclear weapons aboard the
Kursk may never be confirmed, several lost nuclear warheads already litter the world's oceans. Joshua Handler, past research coordinator of
Greenpeace, estimates that since 1945, 50 nuclear weapons have been lost and
remain lost at sea. The U.S. alone officially lists 11 nuclear bombs lost and
never recovered in accidents. (See: Nuclear Spring,
from you About Guide.)

Understandably, governments of nations having nuclear weapons are reluctant
to give out exact information about their whereabouts. The U.S.
Department of Defense's official answer to questions about the location of
nuclear weapons is, "It is U.S. policy neither to confirm nor deny the
presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any specific location."

If asked whether nuclear weapons are aboard a specific surface ship, attack
submarine, or naval aircraft, DoD officials are directed to respond, "It is
general U.S. policy not to deploy nuclear weapons aboard surface ships, attack
submarines, and naval aircraft. However, we do not discuss the presence or
absence of nuclear weapons aboard specific ships, submarines or aircraft."
(Source: DoD
Directive 5230.16 - Dec. 20, 1993)

Thankfully, none of the 50 or so atomic castaways have yet resulted in reported death or
injury, but they continue to disrupt diplomatic relationships, even among
friends.

Just days ago, reports that a lost U.S. hydrogen bomb may still be on the
seabed off Greenland threatened negotiations between the U.S. and Denmark over
America's continued use of the Thule air and radar base.

The bomb was one of four lost in the crash of a U.S. B-52 bomber off Thule,
Greenland in 1968. While the U.S. has always contended that all four weapons
were recovered, a group of former Thule workers claims to be in possession of
"classified" documents indicating that one bomb went unfound.

Quoting from Directive 5230.16, the document establishes, "procedures
for the prompt release of information to the public in the interest of public
safety, and to prevent public alarm in the event of accidents or
significant incidents involving nuclear weapons or nuclear components,
radioactive material, nuclear weapon launch or transport vehicles (when a
nuclear weapon is aboard), or nuclear reactors under DoD control."

Among many other policies, Directive 5230.16 provides DoD officials with a
set of standard answers to public questions about the location or disposition of
nuclear weapons. When asked about the general location of nuclear weapons,
officials are to reply, "It is U.S. policy neither to confirm nor deny the
presence or absence of nuclear weapons at any specific location."

If asked whether nuclear weapons are aboard a specific surface ship, attack
submarine, or naval aircraft, DoD officials are directed to respond, "It is
general U.S. policy not to deploy nuclear weapons aboard surface ships, attack
submarines, and naval aircraft. However, we do not discuss the presence or
absence of nuclear weapons aboard specific ships, submarines or
aircraft."

Historic
Confederate Sub Hunley Raised
The wreck of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley has been recovered intact
under the direction of a National Parks Service team. The Hunley became the
first submarine in history to sink an enemy ship during battle 136 years
ago. From your About Guide.

Nuclear Weapons: Pay Up to CleanupThe U.S. spends about $96 million a day on
nuclear weapons. The DOE estimates that from $151 billion to $195 billion will
be needed through 2070 for cleanup and closure of nuclear weapons facilities.
From your About Guide.

Cold War: Costs of VictoryThe Berlin Wall and communism fell, but now the U.S. is spending $475.5
million to help the former Soviet Union dismantle and store its excess nuclear
weapons. From
your About Guide.

US - Russia Agree to
Destroy Plutonium
Meeting in Moscow, President Clinton and Russian President Putin have agreed
that both nations should destroy their stockpiles of weapons-grade plutonium and
work together on missile warning systems. From
your About Guide.

Nuke
'em?! - The problemLas Vegas Guide Robert Romano
looks at the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage issue from the viewpoint of a
next-door neighbor.

Nuclear
Waste in the US
Links to articles and sites dealing with United States nuclear waste issues.
From Environment Guide Patricia Michaels.

Other Information
Sources

A
history of accidents"MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian and Soviet nuclear submarines have been
involved in a number of accidents during the past four decades. Poor
maintenance and economic troubles since the 1991 Soviet collapse have worsened
the problem." CNN -- Aug. 14, 2000

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